Charter's digital conversion will take place on Tuesday

By Samantha Rinehart

SEMO News Service

SIKESTON -- Tuesday's date typically is known as the deadline to file income taxes, but for local Charter Communications customers it's also the day the all-digital conversion takes place.

The United States' fourth-largest cable operator announced in February that the switch would be coming to Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston, Mo., and surrounding areas. The upgrade from analog to all digital comes in the form of a set-top box, which is required to continue receiving services; the cable running from the wall must be plugged into the box, rather than directly into the television.

Wes Shirley, senior manager of communications for Charter, said the upgrade will provide more and better services for customers.

Because the switch cuts out use of analog, which is lower quality but takes up more bandwidth than digital, he said it frees up space to add more channels. Customers will receive about 175 HD channels after the switch, and 200 after this summer. Charter Internet customers will see their speeds double as a result of the upgrade.

Shirley said another new feature is the Charter TV application, which customers can download for free on smartphones and tablets. The app allows customers to use their devices to watch live television, set DVR recordings or can be used as a remote control.

But the switch to all-digital and the required set-top box caused confusion among some customers. Some of the most common questions revolved around price, installation and necessity.

Who needs a box

To continue receiving cable, each television requires its own box. If a television already is connected to a DVR or another type of set-top box, Shirley said an additional one is not needed, because it already is receiving the digital signal. That only applies to the television directly connected to the DVR, he noted; a television in another room still would require its own box.

Those who do not have a set-top box installed by Tuesday will see a black screen when they turn on their televisions, he said, but customers still have an opportunity to get a box from Charter and install it post-transition.

Price

Each box comes with a monthly charge of $6.99, but Shirley said each customer will qualify for at least one free box for the first year. The number of free boxes a customer receives depends on the "tier" or what service package they have subscribed to with Charter.

"Limited basic" customers can get two boxes for free for two years. Those with "expanded basic" receive two free boxes for one year and those with the "digital package" receive one box free for one year. Shirley said most customers fall under the last category.

He also said customers can visit Charter's website or call a local representative if they are unsure about the number of boxes they qualify for, but to have account numbers and information ready first.

Installation

Those who pick up the boxes from a Charter store or opt to have them shipped to their homes will receive all the supplies necessary for self-installation, Shirley said. Those supplies include a cable that will connect the television to the box, a new remote and the actual set-top box. Customers also will be given a number to call after they've hooked up the box, which is the last step in the installation process.

Charter already has completed all-digital upgrades in five other states, and upgrades began last month in eastern Illinois, near St. Louis. Upgrades near the Perryville, Mo., area are scheduled to begin in the next couple of months. All customers across the company's 29-state service area will receive the upgrade by the end of this year.

Shirley said customers that have experienced the transition so far have been satisfied with their service once the box was installed.

"It's a relatively quick and easy process and the response that we know of is that people are excited to watch a higher quality TV," Shirley said.